Benchmarks for the new MacBook Neo surfaced today, and unsurprisingly, CPU performance is almost identical to the iPhone 16 Pro. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ uses the same 6-core A18 Pro chip that was first introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro, but it has one fewer GPU core.


The ‌MacBook Neo‌ earned a single-core score of 3461 and a multi-core score of 8668, along with a Metal score of 31286.

Here's how the Neo's scores compare to ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro and other devices that make apt comparisons:

• iPhone 16 Pro - 3445 single-core, 8624 multi-core, 32575 Metal


• M1 MacBook Air - 2346 single-core, 8342 multi-core, 33148 Metal


• M4 MacBook Air - 3696 single-core, 14730 multi-core, 54630 Metal


• M3 iPad Air - 3048 single-core, 11678 multi-core, 44395 Metal


• iPad 11 - 2587 single-core, 6036 multi-core, 19395 Metal

Since the ‌MacBook Neo‌ has one fewer GPU core than the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro, it makes sense to see a slightly lower Metal score.

When comparing the ‌MacBook Neo‌'s performance to existing Macs, the A18 Pro's multi-core performance is on par with the M1 chip in the MacBook Air, but single-core performance is much higher than it was with the ‌M1‌. It's closer to the M3 or M4 chip.

High single-core performance is a good fit for the ‌MacBook Neo‌ audience, because single-core speeds are important for activities like web browsing, using document apps, and streaming video. The ‌MacBook Neo‌ isn't really built for video editing, music creation, 3D modeling, and similar tasks where multi-core performance makes more of a difference.

Apple does not compare ‌MacBook Neo‌ performance to other Macs, iPads, or iPhones. The company's low-cost MacBook focuses on competing with similar-priced Windows PCs and Chromebooks. In its marketing materials, Apple says the A18 Pro is up to 50 percent faster for "everyday tasks" than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5. It's also up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads and up to 2x faster for photo editing.

We're only seeing one benchmark result so far, so averages could be slightly different when more Neo machines are benchmarked, but the scores are right in line with what's expected.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is priced starting at $599, and it is available for preorder now. It is set to launch on March 11.
This article, "First MacBook Neo Benchmarks Are In: Here's How It Compares the M1 MacBook Air" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The first Geekbench 6 result for a 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Max chip surfaced today, and Apple has achieved record-breaking performance.


In this unconfirmed result, the M5 Max with an 18-core CPU achieved a score of 29,233 for multi-core CPU performance, which tops the 27,726 score achieved by the Mac Studio's M3 Ultra chip with a 32-core CPU. M5 Max is now the fastest Apple silicon chip ever, and it even topped every other consumer PC processor in the Geekbench database.

In terms of multi-core CPU performance, the M5 Max is up to 5% faster than the M3 Ultra, and up to 15% faster than the M4 Max chip with a 16-core CPU.

Here is a comparison of the multi-core CPU results:

• 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max (18-core CPU): 29,233 (one result)


• Mac Studio with M3 Ultra (32-core CPU): 27,726 (average of all results)


• Mac Studio with M4 Max (16-core CPU): 26,166 (average of all results)


• 16-inch MacBook Pro with M4 Max (16-core CPU): 25,702 (average of all results)

As for single-core CPU performance, the M5 Max with an 18-core CPU achieved a score of 4,268 in this single Geekbench result, which is line with the regular M5 chip in the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro released back in October. This is the highest single-core score of any consumer PC processor ever, topping the AMD Ryzen 9 series.

Stay tuned for coverage of additional benchmarks, including Metal scores for graphics.

MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max are available to pre-order now, and they will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on March 11.
This article, "Apple's M5 Max Chip Achieves a New Record in First Benchmark Result" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today seeded revised third betas of the upcoming iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming three days after Apple provided the initial beta to developers. Apple has also released a new version of iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 for public beta testers.


Registered developers and public beta testers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting Software Update.

iOS 26.4 and iPadOS 26.4 add multiple new features to the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌. A Playlist Playground feature in Apple Music lets you generate songs for any idea, mood, emotion, or activity using a text-based prompt. There's also a Concerts Near You feature for finding local shows, and a redesigned look for albums and playlists with full-page artwork.

Apple Podcasts is getting native video podcasting capabilities that will make it easier to create, distribute, and monetize video podcast content through the Podcasts app. Video episodes will integrate with existing Apple podcasts features, like personalized recommendations and editorial suggestions.

Apple is testing end-to-end encryption for RCS, which will eventually bring full encryption to text conversations between Android and ‌iPhone‌ users. Apple is testing ‌RCS‌ with iPhone-to-iPhone conversations and iPhone-to-Android conversations.

Stolen Device Protection is enabled by default, there's a new ambient music widget, new average bedtime metrics in the sleep app, and plenty more. All of the features in iOS 26.4 can be found in our iOS 26.4 beta features guide.

Update: Apple also released a new third beta of watchOS 26.4.
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In his newsletter over the weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was likely to announce at least some but possibly not all of the following products between March 2 and March 4: the iPhone 17e, MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, updated entry-level iPad and iPad Air models, and a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip.


As it turns out, Apple announced nearly all of those products, with the sole exception being an updated entry-level iPad. In fact, we got two more products on top, in the form of an updated Studio Display and a higher-end Studio Display XDR.

Apple is not expected to unveil any additional products this week, so the wait for an iPad 12 continues for now. The device is expected to have two key upgrades over the iPad 11, including a faster A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support. In fact, one rumor claimed that the iPad 12 might even be powered by Apple's latest A19 chip.

No other major changes have been rumored so far for the iPad 12, so we expect the device to have the same overall design as the current model.

Apple Intelligence is already available on all other current-generation iPad models, including the iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

Apple released the iPad 11 with an A16 chip in March 2025, with U.S. pricing starting at $349.
This article, "Missing From Apple's Announcements: iPad 12 With Apple Intelligence" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple quietly updated Mac Studio configuration options this week, removing the 512GB memory upgrade. As of yesterday, there is no option to purchase a ‌Mac Studio‌ with 512GB RAM, with the machine now maxing out at 256GB.


The ‌Mac Studio‌ starts with 36GB RAM, but there were upgrades ranging from 48GB to 512GB, with the higher tier upgrades limited to the M3 Ultra chip. Now there are options ranging from 48GB to 256GB, with wait times into May for the 256GB upgrade.

Apple has also raised the price for the 256GB RAM upgrade option. It used to cost $1,600 to go from 96GB to 256GB on the high-end M3 Ultra machine, but now it costs $2,000. 512GB was $4,000 when it was available.

Apple has likely removed the option to purchase 512GB of memory because of global DRAM shortages that have dried up supply and caused prices to soar, and it's also probably why shipping times for a configuration with 256GB RAM range into May.

Demand for the ‌Mac Studio‌ has increased due to consumers seeking machines suitable for running local AI agents, which could also be a wait time factor.

Memory scarcity is already having an effect on DRAM pricing, and it could affect PC and smartphone sales in the months to come. Apple is able to absorb higher memory costs in the short term, and it is well-positioned to minimize the effect on consumers because it is better able to secure available DRAM supply than smaller companies.

We are expecting M5 Max and M5 Ultra versions of the ‌Mac Studio‌ in 2026, but it is not yet clear when Apple might release an update.

(Thanks, Ólafur!)
This article, "Mac Studio 512GB RAM Option Disappears Amid Global DRAM Shortage" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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While the MacBook Neo does not launch until next week, Apple's colorful new wallpapers designed for the laptop are included in the macOS 26.3.1 update for it.


MacBook Neo is available in Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver finishes, and there is a Mac wallpaper available for each, with download links below:

• Blush


• Citrus


• Indigo


• Silver

Apple's Mac User Guide explains how to change a Mac's wallpaper.
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Apple's first-generation AirTag 4-Pack has dropped to $64.00 this week on Amazon, down from the original price of $99.00. Free shipping options have a delivery estimate around March 10, while Prime members should be able to get it delivered a few days sooner.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Overall, this is a solid second-best price on the AirTag 4-pack that's within $1 of the Amazon all-time low price. Deals on the 1-Pack have been fluctuating for a few days and are currently gone, but an all-time low price could return soon.



These first generation models will eventually stop being sold by third-party retailers like Amazon, so if you've been waiting for a deal now is the time to buy. Apple just debuted the all-new AirTag, featuring longer range for tracking items and a louder speaker.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Until a last-minute leak revealed the MacBook Neo name, it was widely assumed that Apple's lower-cost MacBook would simply be named "MacBook." After all, Apple offered a plain "MacBook" from 2006 to 2012, and again from 2015 to 2019. In the end, Apple did go with MacBook Neo branding, and it has explained why in a new interview.


In short, Apple said MacBook Neo sounds fresh.

"We wanted something that felt fun and friendly, and fresh, and felt like it really suited the spirit of this product," said Colleen Novielli, a Mac product marketing director, in conversation with TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff.

Indeed, Apple has emphasized the MacBook Neo's newness.

"MacBook Neo is new, exciting, original, and HERE," said Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak, in a social media post on Wednesday. "With a beautiful aluminum design, 13-inch Liquid Retina display, 16 hours of battery life, and the power of Apple silicon, you'll fly through everyday tasks. It'll be love at first Mac."

Many of the MacBook Neo lifestyle images that Apple shared show young people. The more affordable laptop will undoubtedly be popular with students.


The colorful MacBook Neo starts at just $599 in the U.S., and at an even lower $499 for college students. Available in Blush, Citrus, Indigo, and Silver, the MacBook Neo is powered by a version of the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone, and it is equipped with a 13-inch display, up to 512GB of storage, and a non-configurable 8GB of RAM.

With the MacBook Neo, which launches on Wednesday, March 11, Apple could reshape the lower-end laptop market in a big way.
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Apple's latest iPad Air is a minor upgrade over last year's model, but there are still some changes worth noting beyond a new chip.


The eighth-generation ‌iPad Air‌ builds on the foundation of last year's model with a series of specific upgrades focused on performance, memory, and connectivity. While the overall design and experience remains the same, the newer model introduces Apple's M4 chip, additional unified memory, Apple-designed wireless hardware, and support for newer connectivity standards. Here's everything that differs between the 2025 and 2026 ‌iPad Air‌ models:

‌iPad Air‌ (seventh-generation, 2025)	‌iPad Air‌ (eighth-generation, 2026)
M3 chip	M4 chip
8GB unified memory	12GB unified memory
Broadcom wireless chip	Apple N1 wireless chip
Wi-Fi 6E connectivity	Wi-Fi 7 connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity	Bluetooth 6 connectivity
Qualcomm SDX70M 5G modem	Apple C1X modem

The largest change between the two models is the transition from Apple's M3 chip to the newer M4 chip. Beyond modest CPU performance gains, the M4 introduces architectural improvements that increase transistor count, boost machine learning performance, improve memory bandwidth, and enhance efficiency through updated fabrication technology and redesigned cores.

M3 Chip	M4 Chip
Made using TSMC's 3nm technology (N3)	Made using TSMC's enhanced ‌3nm‌ technology (N3E)
Based on iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Pro chip (2023)	Based on iPhone 16's A18 chip (2024)
25 billion transistors	28 billion transistors (+12%)
8-core CPU (4 performance + 4 efficiency cores)	8-core CPU (3 performance + 5 efficiency cores)
4.05 GHz CPU clock speed	4.3 GHz CPU clock speed
16-core Neural Engine, 18 trillion operations per second	16-core Neural Engine, 38 trillion operations per second (+111%)
LPDDR5 memory	LPDDR5X memory
100 GB/s memory bandwidth	120 GB/s memory bandwidth (+20%)
	Dedicated display engine
GPU with standard power efficiency	More power-efficient GPU: Maintains performance with significantly less power

Overall, the upgrade from the 2025 iPad Air to the 2026 ‌iPad Air‌ is minor. The new model introduces a faster M4 chip, more unified memory, and newer wireless technologies, but the broader experience remains fundamentally unchanged in any noticeable way.

Apple itself signals how incremental the update is: the company continues to advertise the same battery life, despite the introduction of the more efficient C1X modem, and the device retains identical color options and even the same marketing wallpapers. For the overwhelming majority of ‌iPad Air‌ users, the performance difference between the two models is likely to be negligible, especially for everyday tasks.

The new ‌iPad Air‌ is primarily aimed at buyers who simply want a capable, well-balanced iPad rather than those seeking a major upgrade from a more recent model. The Air continues to occupy the middle ground in Apple's lineup, offering significantly more power and capability than the entry-level ‌iPad‌ while remaining substantially less expensive than the iPad Pro. The transition to the M4 chip, additional memory, and newer connectivity standards like Wi-Fi 7 means that new buyers receive more modern hardware and longer-term headroom, making the device somewhat more future-proof.

For existing users, however, there is little reason to upgrade. Anyone using an M3-based ‌iPad Air‌ will see minimal real-world benefits from moving to the M4 model, and even owners of M1 or M2 versions are unlikely to experience transformative improvements in typical use. Instead, the update simply ensures that customers purchasing a new ‌iPad Air‌ today receive Apple's newer underlying technology in a familiar package.
This article, "M3 vs. M4 iPad Air Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It's Apple pre-order week, and we've already covered all of the offers you can find on iPhone 17e, MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. In addition to these deals, Best Buy is providing $40 in savings on the new 128GB Wi-Fi M4 iPad Air, with My Best Buy Plus/Total members getting an extra $10 off.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

With this discount, all shoppers can get the 128GB Wi-Fi M4 iPad Air for $559.00, down from $599.00. If you have a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership, you can get the tablet for $549.00.




Otherwise, Best Buy is offering $50 discounts on all other models of the M4 iPad Air, but these require a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership. Only the 128GB models have a discount available to all shoppers.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Apple does not advertise RAM amounts in iPhones, but MacRumors has confirmed this information through Apple's developer tool Xcode.


Like the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 17e is equipped with 8GB of RAM, according to the Xcode data. This was the expected amount of RAM, and it is the minimum required for a device to be compatible with Apple Intelligence.

This means both the standard iPhone 17 model and the lower-end iPhone 17e are equipped with the A19 chip and 8GB of RAM. However, the iPhone 17e has a slightly limited 4-core GPU, while the iPhone 17 has a 5-core GPU.

iPhone 17e can be pre-ordered now and launches on Wednesday, March 11.
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Google's Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) has a new report out about a powerful iOS exploit kit called "Coruna," which traveled from a surveillance vendor's customer to a Russian espionage group to Chinese cybercriminals, revealing a sophisticated exploit "supply chain" in the process.


Described as one of the most comprehensive iOS exploit toolkits to have been documented publicly, Coruna targets iPhones running iOS 13.0 through iOS 17.2.1, containing 23 exploits across four years of iOS versions.

According to GTIG, it was first spotted in February 2025, when it was used by a customer of a commercial surveillance vendor. By summer 2025, the same framework appeared in watering hole attacks (where an attacker compromises websites that their intended targets are likely to visit) by a suspected Russian espionage group targeting Ukrainian users.

Then, in late in 2025, a China-based, financially motivated actor deployed it across a large network of fake financial and crypto websites. GTIG said it was unclear how the exploit kit got passed from actor to actor, but that it suggests an active market for "second hand" zero-day exploits.

As for the kit's contents, it's described as extremely well-engineered. When someone visits an infected website, it figures out what kind of iPhone they're using and what software version it's running, then picks the right attack for that specific device. If the user has Apple's Lockdown Mode turned on though, the kit bails – it doesn't even try.

The attack code is scrambled with strong encryption, so it's hard for security researchers to intercept and analyze, and it's packaged in a custom format that the developers apparently invented themselves. The code also includes detailed notes written in English explaining how it all works, and uses attack techniques that haven't been seen publicly before, according to GTIG's analysis.

The kit targets cryptocurrency wallets and financial data, and is capable of hooking into 18 different crypto apps to exfiltrate wallet credentials. The payload can decode QR codes from images on disk, and it also has a module to analyze blobs of text to look for BIP39 word sequences or very specific keywords like "backup phrase" or "bank account." It even scans Apple Notes for typical seed phrases.

Anyone still on iOS 17.2.1 or earlier is potentially vulnerable to the exploit kit, which doesn't work against newer iOS versions, so make sure to update if you can. Otherwise, the takeaway seems to be that Apple's Lockdown Mode is doing its job to ward off such a powerful exploit kit, and that can only be good news for those who enable it.
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Apple this week unveiled seven products, ranging from the iPhone 17e to the MacBook Neo, but new Apple TV and HomePod mini models were not among them.


Given that there have been rumors about the next-generation Apple TV and HomePod mini since all the way back in late 2024, some customers are wondering why the devices have yet to launch, and the answer likely relates to Siri.

In September, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the next Apple TV and HomePod mini would both support the more personalized version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Apple originally aimed to release the revamped Siri last year, but it was pushed back, and the Apple TV and HomePod mini are likely delayed as a result. We suspect that Apple's long-rumored smart home hub is also held up by the Siri delay.

Apple has proceeded with releasing some other new products that will eventually support the more personalized version of Siri, but it will likely be a tentpole feature of Apple's all-new smart home hub, and likely the next Apple TV and HomePod mini too. Apple may announce a set of new home products tied to the new Siri.

In January, Apple and Google announced that Google Gemini will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year. Apple has yet to provide a more specific timeframe, but Gurman reported that the personalized Siri features are currently slated for either iOS 26.5 or iOS 27.

iOS 26.5 will likely be released in May, following a beta testing period beginning in April. iOS 27 will debut at Apple's annual developers conference WWDC in June, and that update should be released to all users in September. There would be corresponding tvOS and HomePod software updates released at the same times. Accordingly, the new Apple TV and HomePod mini might not be announced until April to September this year.

Earlier rumors claimed the next Apple TV would be equipped with the A17 Pro chip, which is the oldest chip that supports Apple Intelligence. The device is also expected to feature Apple's N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread.

As for the HomePod mini, it is expected to use an Apple Watch's S9 chip or newer, but it is not entirely clear how that chip would be capable enough to support the revamped Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Other rumored features include the N1 chip, improved sound quality, a newer Ultra Wideband chip, and a red color option.

The current Apple TV was unveiled in October 2022, while the HomePod mini debuted in October 2020, so both devices are due for upgrades. Hopefully, the more personalized Siri arrives in the next few months, and the two devices follow soon after.
This article, "New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are Still Missing, Here's Why" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's new MacBook Neo could help the company grow notebook shipments by nearly 8% this year, even as the broader laptop market faces a hefty downturn, according to a new report from TrendForce.


The research firm estimates global notebook shipments will fall 9.2% year-over-year in 2026, with the potential for steeper declines if demand stays weak. Rising memory and CPU costs are said to have pushed most PC makers to pare back their product lines and play it safe with inventory. Meanwhile, Apple is going in the other direction.

Announced on Wednesday with a starting price of $599, the MacBook Neo is targeting the $500-$800 mainstream segment, which is typically dominated by Windows laptops and Chromebooks aimed at education and general productivity users. With an education discount, the Neo's starting price drops to $499 – well below the $1,000 floor that has defined the MacBook lineup for years.

TrendForce projects Apple's notebook shipments will grow 7.7% in 2026, lifting macOS market share to 13.2%. The MacBook Neo alone could account for 4 to 5 million units shipped, according to the firm. That said, the report notes that a deciding factor may be how consumers respond to the 8GB memory configuration, given that Apple doesn't offer a RAM upgrade option.

TrendForce credits Apple's in-house silicon and standardized product specs for Apple's ability to undercut competitors on price just as component costs are rising. Custom Apple silicon chips reduce dependence on external CPU suppliers, while Apple's concentrated memory configurations are said to give the company stronger bargaining power with suppliers. It's a different story for Windows OEMs, which tend to have more fragmented product portfolios that make cost management harder when component costs are volatile.


The MacBook Neo launches next Wednesday, March 11. If it manages to gain traction in the entry-level segment, TrendForce claims it could reshape the pricing dynamics across the global notebook market.
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Google's NotebookLM AI-based tool can now turn your research and notes into fully animated "cinematic" videos – an advancement over its original video overview feature that was introduced last year.


Before now, video overviews were limited to generating slideshows of your research and writing, but the new Cinematic Video Overview feature uses Gemini 3, Nano Banana Pro, and Veo 3 models to generate animated visuals "to help you learn and engage with the topics you care about," says Google.

Google says Gemini acts as a creative director, making hundreds of structural and stylistic decisions to best tell the story with your sources. It determines the best narrative, visual style and format, and also refines its own work to ensure consistency.


Cinematic Video Overviews are available in English for Google AI Ultra subscribers over 18 on web and mobile, and there's a maximum of 20 overviews generated per day. The NotebookLM app is available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
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Apple's low-cost MacBook Neo is compatible with the company's new Studio Displays, but its output will be scaled to 4K resolution at 60Hz.


Apple confirmed the compatibility and output limitation with 9to5Mac.

With pricing starting at $1,599, the regular Studio Display runs at 5K with a maximum 60Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the all-new 5K Studio Display XDR is capable of up to 120Hz and pricing starts at $3,299.

Apple calls the refreshed Studio Display "the perfect companion to Mac," but if you were planning on using it as an external display for a new MacBook Neo, there are other options available at significantly lower price points – USB-C 4K displays from companies like LG, Dell, and Samsung, for example.

If you still have a Mac with an Intel chip inside, you're not going to want to pick up one of the new Studio Display or Studio Display XDR models either – neither model will work with an Intel-based Mac.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has two USB-C ports, but only one supports DisplayPort 1.4 for connecting an external display. To use an external monitor, it must be connected to the correct port, which is the USB 3 port located closest to the rear of the device. The laptop does not support Thunderbolt either, so you can't daisy-chain multiple monitors.

The $599 MacBook Neo‌ and the new Studio Displays are available to pre-order now, with availability beginning on Wednesday, March 11.
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Apple Music is rolling out a new metadata system called Transparency Tags, which indicates when AI has been used in the creation of music hosted on the platform.


According to Music Business Worldwide, Apple sent a newsletter to industry partners on Wednesday to explain how it will roll out the new set of metadata.

The system covers four categories including artwork, track, composition (lyrics), and music video. Labels and distributors can begin applying the tags immediately. Apple describes the tags as optional for now, noting that if omitted, no AI is assumed.

Apple said it defers to content providers to determine what qualifies as AI-generated, and that it treats the tags similarly to genres, credits, and other existing metadata. The company describes it as a first step toward industry-wide transparency around AI-generated music.

Proper tagging of content is the first step in giving the music industry the data and tools needed to develop thoughtful policies around AI," Apple said in the newsletter, "and we believe labels and distributors must take an active role in reporting when the content they deliver is created using AI."

Apple's approach contrasts with the route taken by competitors like Deezer, which has built its own detection infrastructure to independently identify AI-generated tracks, but it's not 100% accurate all the time.

Deezer reports that it receives over 60,000 fully AI-generated tracks per day, with synthetic content now accounting for roughly 39% of all music delivered to the platform. Up to 85% of streams on AI-generated music were fraudulent in 2025, according to Deezer's data.

With Apple's tags, there isn't a visible enforcement or cross-verification process in place. The system is completely voluntary, or at least it is for now. Whether labels and distributors will actually use it remains to be seen.
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The new MacBook Neo is equipped with two USB-C ports, but they are not the same. The left USB-C port supports USB 3 speeds of up to 10 Gb/s, while the right USB-C port closer to the trackpad is limited to USB 2 speeds of just 480 Mb/s. As a result, Apple says external display connectivity is supported on the left port only.


Given the ports are not labeled, this limitation could be an inconvenience. Fortunately, though, Daring Fireball's John Gruber said if you plug an external display into the incorrect port, macOS will alert you to use the other port.

Apple says the MacBook Neo supports one external display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz.

If you want to learn more about which features and specs you have to live without if you buy a MacBook Neo, read our in-depth list of compromises.

MacBook Neo is available to pre-order now, with U.S. pricing starting at $599 ($499 for college students). The laptop launches Wednesday, March 11.
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None of the new MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro models unveiled this week come with a charger in the UK and EU countries, such as Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. This change began with the base 14-inch MacBook Pro last year.


If you need a power adapter, you must purchase one separately during checkout or later.

In all other countries, Apple includes a charger in the box with these Macs, at no additional cost. In the U.S., for example, the MacBook Neo ships with Apple's 20W USB-C Power Adapter (sold separately for $19), while the 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with Apple's 140W USB-C Power Adapter (sold separately for $99).

Apple includes a USB-C or MagSafe 3 charging cable with all of the new MacBooks sold worldwide.
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Across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Apple unveiled seven new products, including low-cost iPhone and MacBook options, new displays, and refreshes for the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iPad Air.


We've rounded up all of our coverage from this week in case you missed any of the product announcements or details.

MacBook Neo

• Apple Announces $599 'MacBook Neo' With A18 Pro Chip


• Hello, MacBook Neo: Apple Showcases All-New $599 MacBook in Videos


• Want Touch ID on the MacBook Neo? It'll Cost You $100 Extra


• MacBook Neo Features Two Different USB-C Ports


• MacBook Neo Starts at Just $499 for Students


• MacBook Neo Has Just 8GB RAM With No Upgrade Option


• MacBook Neo Can Only Drive One External Display at 4K 60Hz


• MacBook Neo vs. MacBook Air Buyer's Guide: 40 Differences Compared


• Hands-On With the New MacBook Neo


• 20+ MacBook Neo Compromises: What You Give Up for Apple’s Cheapest Mac

iPhone 17e

• Apple Announces iPhone 17e With A19 Chip, MagSafe, and More


• iPhone 17e Comes in These Three Colors


• iPhone 17e Now Features 256GB Base Storage


• iPhone 17e Solves iPhone 16e's Biggest Limitation


• iPhone 17e: Smaller Details You Might Have Missed


• Get an iPhone 17e at No Cost With First Pre-Order Deals From T-Mobile and Verizon

iPad Air

• Apple Unveils iPad Air With M4 Chip, Increased RAM, Wi-Fi 7, and More


• First M4 iPad Air Benchmarks Surface

Studio Display

• Apple Introduces All-New Studio Display XDR: 120Hz, Mini-LED, and More


• Apple Updates Studio Display With Thunderbolt 5 and More


• Apple Discontinues Pro Display XDR and $999 Stand


• These Macs Can't Run the Studio Display XDR at 120Hz


• New Apple Studio Display and Studio Display XDR Don't Support Intel Macs


• Apple's New Studio Display Boxes Designed to Fit in Your Recycle Bin


• New Studio Display and Studio Display XDR Will Have Day One Firmware Update


• Apple’s Two New Studio Display Models Feature Different Chips

MacBook Pro

• Apple Unveils MacBook Pro Featuring M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips With New Fusion Architecture


• Apple Debuts M5 Pro and M5 Max Chips


• Apple Removes 512GB Storage Option From M5 MacBook Pro, Drops SSD Upgrade Prices

MacBook Air

• Apple Announces MacBook Air With M5 Chip and 512GB Base Storage


• New M5 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Get First Pre-Order Offers From Best Buy

Accessories

• Apple Releases iPhone Cases, Apple Watch Bands, and Crossbody Strap in New Colors

Other News

• Apple Changes Trade-In Values for iPhones, Macs, and More


• Apple Opens Pre-Orders for MacBook Neo, iPhone 17e, M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pro, New Studio Displays and More

More Coverage

Apple CEO Tim Cook shared a wrap-up post on social media, and with pre-orders now live for all of the new products, we're not expecting any additional announcements this week.

Everything Apple announced this week will be launching on Wednesday, March 11, and we'll have more in-depth coverage and reviews of what's new.
This article, "Apple's Biggest Week of 2026: Details on Every New Product Announced" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The new MacBook Neo is Apple's most affordable Mac notebook, and at $599, it's priced the same as the iPhone 17e. For teachers and college students, it's even more affordable at $499.


To offer a Mac at such a low price, Apple had to make some compromises, and there are some features that the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is lacking compared to the next most expensive Mac notebook, the MacBook Air.

Processor

• A18 Pro Chip - Apple is using an A-series chip instead of an M-series chip in the Neo. It has the A18 Pro chip that Apple debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro, but it is a binned version. It has a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU, while the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro chip had a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU.


• RAM - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has 8GB RAM with no option to pay for more. All other Macs start with 16GB. It still supports Apple Intelligence, because 8GB is the minimum for it.


• Memory bandwidth - Apple's chips use unified memory that's available to the CPU and GPU. Memory bandwidth in the Neo is 60GB/s, less than half that of the ‌MacBook Air‌.


• Storage - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ starts with 256GB of storage, and there's only a single 512GB upgrade. Other Macs support much higher capacity SSDs.


• Wi-Fi - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has Wi-Fi 6E, but not Wi-Fi 7 because Apple did not include its new N1 networking chip.

Battery and Charging

• Battery capacity - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is almost the same size as the ‌MacBook Air‌, but it has a shorter battery life. It lasts for up to 16 hours when streaming video, while the ‌MacBook Air‌ lasts for up to 18 hours. The battery has a 36.5-watt-hour capacity, while the ‌MacBook Air‌ has a 53.8-watt-hour battery.


• Battery size - Since the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is thicker than the ‌MacBook Air‌, it has even more room for a battery, but Apple didn't max out on battery life, which is likely a cost cutting measure. Apple is using older battery technology or a smaller battery. Battery life should theoretically be even longer because the A18 Pro chip doesn't draw as much power as the M5.


• No MagSafe - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is limited to USB-C charging, and it does not include a MagSafe port.


• No fast charging - Apple ships the ‌MacBook Neo‌ with a 20W power adapter, and there is no mention of fast charging support.

Ports

• USB-C - There are two USB-C ports, one that's USB 3 and one that's USB 2. The USB3 port supports DisplayPort 1.4 and up to 10Gb/s transfer speeds, but the USB 2 port is limited to 480Mb/s.


• Display support - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ only supports a single external display at 4K 60Hz, though it may be possible to connect another with a third-party DisplayPort adapter.


• No Thunderbolt - There are no Thunderbolt ports on the ‌MacBook Neo‌ because Thunderbolt is not supported.


• No Studio Display - Since the Neo does not have Thunderbolt and is limited to 4K displays, it is not compatible with the Studio Display.

Design

• Display size - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a 13-inch display size, so it is Apple's smallest Mac notebook. The ‌MacBook Air‌ has a 13.6-inch display.


• Bezels - There is no notch on the Neo, but it does have thick iPad-style bezels at the top, bottom, and sides of the display. The bezel hides the FaceTime camera.


• Thickness - The Neo is just a little smaller than the ‌MacBook Air‌ when it comes to length and width, but it is thicker at 0.50 inches (vs 0.44 inches for the ‌MacBook Air‌).

Display

• No True Tone - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ does not support True Tone, which is the white balance feature that adjusts the temperature of the display to match the ambient lighting in the room, making it easier on the eyes.


• No P3 Wide color - sRGB is supported, but P3 Wide color is not, so the ‌MacBook Neo‌ won't have colors that are as true to life as other Mac notebooks.


• No ProMotion - Unsurprisingly, the ‌MacBook Neo‌ is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate and it does not support ProMotion.

Trackpad and Keyboard

• Backlighting - There is no backlight for the keyboard.


• Touch ID - Touch ID is not included with the base 256GB model, but you can get it by paying an extra $100 for the 512GB model.


• Trackpad - There isn't a Force Touch trackpad, with Apple instead adopting a less complicated physical Multi-Touch trackpad. The button on the trackpad is an actual button, rather than a virtual button with haptic feedback. There is no pressure-sensing feature, Force clicks, or pressure-sensitive drawing option.

Speakers and Camera

• FaceTime Camera - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a 1080p ‌FaceTime‌ HD camera like older Macs rather than the newer 12-megapixel Center Stage camera Apple has been adding to its newer models. There is no Center Stage or Desk View.


• Camera light - There's no little light to alert you when the ‌MacBook Neo‌ camera is on, with Apple instead displaying a warning on the menu bar.


• Speakers - The ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a dual-speaker sound system with speakers that are on the outer sides of the device. The ‌MacBook Air‌ has a four-speaker sound system with richer sound, but both the Neo and the Air support spatial audio.


• Microphones - There are only two microphones, but Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum are still supported for better clarity for calls.


• Headphone jack - There's a 3.5mm headphone jack, but it does not have support for high-impedance headphones.

MacBook Neo Pros

Even though the ‌MacBook Neo‌ has a simplified feature set compared to other Mac models, the price can't be beat. $599 for a Mac is an incredible deal, and the A18 Pro chip is more than adequate for daily use and the type of work that students do.

It's not the best choice for 3D rendering, running local AI models, video editing, or similar creative tasks, but it will do those things at a basic level. It's an ideal MacBook for anyone who doesn't need more than a machine for web browsing and other light work, and it will do everything an iPhone can do. These days, that's quite a bit.

For more on the differences between the ‌MacBook Neo‌ and the ‌MacBook Air‌, we have a dedicated comparison guide.

The ‌MacBook Neo‌ is available for pre-order now, and it is set to launch on Wednesday, March 11.
This article, "20+ MacBook Neo Compromises: What You Give Up for Apple's Cheapest Mac" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's press release and marketing materials for the new Studio Display and Studio Display XDR models do not mention which chips are inside the monitors, but MacRumors has confirmed this information in the latest Studio Display firmware.


The firmware reveals that the second-generation Studio Display is equipped with an A19 chip, while the Studio Display XDR has an A19 Pro chip, according to code reviewed by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. Rumors had mentioned either the A19 chip or the A19 Pro chip, and it turns out that the two chips are split across the two models.

The original Studio Display from 2022 is equipped with an A13 Bionic chip, which is something that Apple advertised. Apple said the chip enables features such as Center Stage camera framing, Spatial Audio, and "Siri" and "Hey Siri" voice activation for Siri. Apple introduced the A13 Bionic chip in the iPhone 11 series in 2019.

Introduced across the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models last year, the A19 and A19 Pro chips are much newer than the A13 Bionic. They continue to enable features such as Center Stage, Spatial Audio, and "Hey Siri," but Apple has not publicly commented on any specific improvements that the newer chips contribute to.

Both of the new Studio Displays are also equipped with Apple-designed timing controllers, or TCONs. In the Studio Display XDR, the TCON drives the XDR display with 2,304 local dimming zones, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Adaptive Sync.

These chips likely help to drive the improved speakers in both new Studio Display models, and they likely enable the camera's Desk View feature, which can show your face and an overhead view of your desk at the same time.

We will learn more about the new Studio Displays and the hardware inside of them through upcoming reviews and teardowns.

Both new models can be pre-ordered now and launch on Wednesday, March 11.
This article, "Apple's Two New Studio Display Models Feature Different A19 Chips" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released iOS 18.7.6 for older devices, addressing an issue that caused some older iPhones in Australia to be unable to connect to emergency services.


According to Apple's release notes, the update fixes an issue that was preventing the iPhone XS and ‌iPhone‌ XR from properly connecting to emergency networks in Australia.

• This update addresses a mobile network issue for ‌iPhone‌ XS models and ‌iPhone‌ XR when establishing a connection to emergency services in Australia.

Australian mobile network operators have been improving support for emergency calling on their networks, which has led to a host of problems with older iPhones connecting to emergency situations in some situations. Apple has released several updates to address the problem, including iOS 16.7.4 and iOS 26.2.1.

Some of Apple's updates exacerbated the issue, and Apple ended up temporarily pulling iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 back in December. Since then, additional updates have been released to further fix the emergency calling bugs, including the new iOS 18.7.6. update.
This article, "Apple Releases iOS 18.7.6 to Address Australia Emergency Call Issue" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Earlier today we began tracking the first pre-order offers on the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, and now the MacBook Neo has joined in at Best Buy. If you pre-order the new low-cost MacBook Neo at Best Buy, you'll get a free $25 Best Buy gift card after purchase.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

In order to get the deal, you need to pre-order any MacBook Neo model at Best Buy with a valid e-mail address. The e-gift card will be sent out after you receive the MacBook Neo, or after you pick it up in a Best Buy store.



Apple announced the MacBook Neo today, and it's now the cheapest MacBook in the lineup starting at $599 and powered by the A18 Pro chip. Apple says it is up to 50% faster for everyday tasks than the bestselling PC with the latest shipping Intel Core Ultra 5, up to 3x faster for on-device AI workloads, and up to 2x faster for tasks like photo editing.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "MacBook Neo Pre-Orders at Best Buy Include Free $25 Gift Card" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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